Joe Warren pulled from Saturday's Bellator 98 co-headliner

Joe Warren has been pulled from Saturday’s Bellator 98 co-headliner after being declared medically unfit to fight.

Bellator officials today announced the scratch, though details on Warren’s condition were not revealed.

Warren (8-3 MMA, 6-2 BMMA), a former Bellator featherweight champion who recently appeared on Bellator’s “Fight Master” reality show, was scheduled to fight Nick Kirk (10-2 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) in the opening round of Bellator’s Season 9 bantamweight tournament. Kirk also has been scratched from the lineup.

Bellator 98 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Spike TV following prelims on Spike.com.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with one of the best commissioners in the sport in Mike Mazzulli, and after carefully reviewing Joe’s medical documents, everyone agreed to err on the side of caution with the goal of ensuring our fighters safety,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney stated. “It was determined Joe would be unable to compete this Saturday at Mohegan Sun. Joe’s been with us since the beginning, and as is the case with every fighter here, it’s incumbent on me to ensure Joe is 100 percent healthy and medically cleared to fight before he steps into the Bellator cage.”

A bout between lightweights Patricky Freire (10-4 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) and Derek Anderson (9-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has taken the open slot on the Spike TV broadcast.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.